PNP revives sports program teaching martial arts to cops

Cecille Suerte Felipe of The Philippine Star reports that policemen will soon be given training on combat sports and martial arts, including taekwondo, boxing, karate and arnis, as the Philippine National Police (PNP) revives its Combat Sports Training Program.

The report quoted Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, head of the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Public Information Office, as saying that training policemen in combat sports is seen to encourage them "to use their physical skills to defend themselves and other people against lawless elements."

The idea for training cops in martial arts was floated as early as 2012, after PNP officials were inspired by the Japanese police's practice of training their personnel in combat sports. Japanese policemen are known to practice martial arts such as judo and karate until they retire.